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s of the day； to the Dresden court； and so well supplied was he； that he dared compete in pomp and splendor with Count Bruhl。
Frederick appeared to attach special importance to the friendship of Saxony； and with none of his foreign ambassadors was he engaged in so active a correspondence as with Mattzahn。 It was said that these letters were of a harmless and innocent nature； relating wholly to paintings； which the count was to purchase from the Saxon galleries； or to music； which Frederick wished to obtain from amongst the collection of the dead Hesse； or to an Italian singer Frederick wished to entice to Berlin。
The world no longer favored Frederick's retirement。 The less disposed he was to mingle in politics； the more Maria Theresa； Elizabeth of Russia； Augustus of Saxony； and the Marquise de Pompadour agitated the subject。
France had not forgotten that the contract between herself and Prussia was about to expire。 She knew also that the subsidy money between England and Russia had not yet been voted by Parliament。 It was therefore possible to reap some advantages from this point。 With this view； France sent the Duke de Nivernois as special ambassador to Berlin； to treat with the king as to the renewal of the old alliance。
The Duke de Nivernois came with a glittering suite to Berlin； and was received at the Prussian court with all the consideration which his rank and official character demanded。 The grand master of ceremonies； Baron von Pollnitz； was sent forward to meet him； and to invite him； in the name of the king； to occupy one of the royal palaces in Berlin。
Every room of the palace was splendidly decorated for the reception of the duke； and as soon as he arrived； two guards were placed before the housea mark of consideration which the king had only heretofore given to reigning princes。
The duke accepted these distinguished attentions with lively gratitude； and pleaded for an immediate audience； in order to present his credentials。
Pollnitz was commissioned to make all necessary arrangements； and agree with the duke as to the day and hour of the ceremony。
The king； who wished to give the French duke a proof of his consideration； intended that the presentation should be as imposing as possible； and all Berlin was to be witness of the friendship existing between the French and Prussian courts。
Upon the appointed day； a dazzling assemblage of equipages stood before the palace of the Duke de Nivernois。 These were the royal festal carriages； intended for the members of the French embassy。 Then followed a long line of carriages； occupied by the distinguished members of the Prussian court。 Slowly and solemnly this pompous procession moved through the streets； and was received at the portal of the king's palace by the royal guard。 Richly… dressed pages； in advance of whom stood the grand master of ceremonies with his golden staff； conducted the French ambassador to the White saloon； where the king； in all his royal pomp； and surrounded by the princes of his house； received him。
The solemn ceremony began； the duke drew near the throne； and； bowing his knee； handed his credentials to the king； who received them with a gracious smile。
The duke commenced his address； it was filled with flowery phrases； suited to the great occasion。 Frederick listened with the most earnest attention； and his reply was kind； but dignified and laconic。
The public ceremony was over； and now came the important part of the audience； the confidential conversation。 To this point the duke had looked with lively impatience； for this； indeed； had he been sent to Berlin。
The king descended from the throne； and laying aside all the solemnity of court etiquette； he approached the duke in the most gracious and genial manner； welcomed him heartily； and expressed his sincere delight at his arrival。
〃Ah； sire；〃 said the duke； with animation； 〃how happy will my king be to learn that his ambassador has been so graciously received by your majesty！〃
The king smiled。 〃I thought the ceremony was all over；〃 said he； 〃and that I no longer spoke with the ambassador； but with the Duke de Nivernois； whom I know and love； and whose intellectual conversation will afford me a rare pleasure。 Let us； therefore； chat together innocently； and forget the stiff ceremonies with which； I think； we have both been sufficiently burdened today。 Tell me something of Paris； monsieur； of that lovely； enchanting； but overbold coquette； Paris； whom the world adores while it ridicules； and imitates while it blames。〃
〃Ah； sire； if I must speak of Paris； I must first tell you of my kingof my king； who wishes nothing more ardently than the renewal of the bond of friendship between your majesty and himself； and the assurance of its long continuance； who〃
〃That is most kind of his majesty；〃 said Frederick； interrupting him； 〃and I certainly share the friendly wishes of my exalted brother of France。 But tell me now something of your learned men。 How goes it with the Academy？ Do they still refuse Voltaire a seat； while so many unknown men have become academicians？〃
〃Yes； sire these academicians are obstinate in their conclusions； and； as the Academy is a sort of republic； the king has no power to control them If that were not so； my exalted master； King Louis； in order to be agreeable to your majesty； would exert all his influence； and〃
〃Ah； sir；〃 interrupted the king； 〃it is just and beautiful that the Academy is a free republic； which will not yield to the power and influence of the king。 Art and science need for their blossom and growth freedom of thought and speech。 Fate ordained that I should be born a king； but when alone in my study； alone with my books； I am fully content to be republican in the kingdom of letters。 I confess the truth to you when； as a wise republican； I read thoughtfully in the pages of history； I sometimes come to the conclusion that kings and princes are unnecessary articles of luxury； and I shrug my shoulders at them rather contemptuously。〃
〃And yet； sire； the arts need the protection of princes； that the republic of letters blooms and flourishes in a monarchy is shown in Prussia； where a royal republican and a republican king governs his people； and at the same time gives freedom of thought and speech to science。 France should be proud and happy that your majesty has adopted so many of her sons into your republic of letters； we dare； therefore； come to the conclusion that your majesty will not confine your interest wholly to them； but that this alliance between France and Prussia； which my king so earnestly desires and〃
〃Unhappily；〃 said the king； interrupting him eagerly； 〃the distinguished Frenchmen who have become my allies； are exactly those whom their strong…minded； fanatical mother； La France； has cast out from her bosom as dishonored sons。 Voltaire lives in Ferney。 Jean Jacques Rousseau； whom I admire but do not love； lives in Geneva； where he has been obliged to take refuge。 I have also been told that the pension which； in a favorable moment； was granted to D'Alembert； has been withdrawn。 Have I been falsely informed？ has my friend D'Alembert not fallen into disgrace？ is not my friend the encyclopaedian； regarded as a transgressor； and a high traitor because he uses the undoubted right of free thought； does not blindly believe； but looks abroad with open eyes and a clear intellect？〃
The duke replied by a few confused and disconnected words； and a shadow fell upon his clear countenance； three times had Frederick interrupted him when he sought to speak of the King of France and his friendship for his brother of Prussia。 The duke did not dare choose this theme for the fourth time； which was so evidently distasteful to the king； he must； therefore； submit and follow the lead of his majesty； and in lieu of alliances and state questions discuss philosophy and the arts。 So soon as the duke came to this conclusion； he smoothed his brow； and； with all his amiability； animation； and intelligence； he replied to the questions of the king； and the conversation was carried on in an unbroken stream of wit and gayety。
〃At the next audience I will surely find an opportunity to speak of politics；〃 said the duke to himself。 〃